Thank you for taking the time to read the St Mark's Appeal Document.  When I first arrived in Cape Town in 1991 I looked across to St Mark's, District Six from the Eastern Boulevard and was drawn to a wonderful stone church standing strongly against the modern architecture of its surroundings.  I discovered a building ideally suited to offer a varied ministry to the needs of a developing urban community and soon learnt of its unique significance as a bastion of the long struggle against apartheid.

I quickly put pen to paper little knowing that 3 years later I would become the 29^th Rector of St Mark's.  As we now look towards the turn of the century I am more convinced than ever that St Mark's has a crucial role to play in the development of the city bowl and in providing a venue where life, culture and deep spirituality can be celebrated.  It is set to make a unique contribution to the healing and restoration of South Africa.

In 1966 under the infamous Group Areas Act, District Six was declared a white area and between 60,000 to 80,000 people were forcibly evicted And their homes were systematically demolished.  Parishioners were relocated on the barren waste land of the Cape Flats giving rise to economically deprived communities who return, Sunday to Sunday, to their spiritual home at St Mark's.  They have shared many ideas and struggled to raise funds to keep the church alive.  We now appeal for assistance.  We have developed a mission statement and have a vision of a place of welcome to all and a ministry directed towards the healing of past memories and hurts.

In the following pages you will discover some of the practical tasks we have set ourselves on order to make the church and its environs, attractive welcoming and flexible for many varied uses.

St Mark's is currently involved in the sensitive process of restitution to be given to the victims of forced removals and the rebuilding of District Six.  Not a reconstruction of the original and yet hopefully creating a community, which reflects much of the spirit, the vibrancy and the multiculturalism that were the hallmarks of the old District Six Normally when a new community is built the church, is the last to arrive.  It is exciting that St Mark's will be ready to welcome the new community and from the outset provide a lively focus and a spiritual home for the new residents.

We can only look forward to the future because of the faithful and courageous witness of the past ‘saints’ of St Mark's.  I would like to acknowledge those who fought for the survival of St Mark's against the onslaught of the developers.  Those whose faithful presence over the years has kept St Mark's alive.  Past Rectors and Lay Ministers who have led the people of St Mark's through times of joy and hardship.

Finally I acknowledge you the reader, for I know I can count on your support for this exciting and visionary work.  We must remember;

I have pleasure in inviting you to become part of the realization of our vision and of the wider vision of making Christ known in the City of Cape Town.

May God bless you and give you peace.